Recipes and Nutrition for Cancer Patients

This page has lots of recipes and ideas for meals and snacks that can get you through treatment and beyond without being boring or repetitive.

Recipes

Scroll down to view our recipe video series created specifically for patients, in partnership with head and neck cancer surgeons.

Link to - Eat well during cancer

Nutrition

We have partnered with Malnutrition Pathways to share its great nutrition resources.

Link to - Malnutrition pathway

Recipes made by our friend Philippe Katz, which are suitable for oral cancer patients who have undergone radiotherapy and have difficulties with eating. These recipes are made to be enjoyed by the whole family. Often many oral cancer patients choose to eat alone, due to their special dietary requirements and issues swallowing. After radiotherapy, patients may lose their sense of taste and commonly used ingredients may burn their mouths. But, with a little help from Philippe, simple, tasty family meals can be prepared so that everyone can enjoy eating together.

Creating recipes his patients can comfortably enjoy

Dr. Phillipe Katz

Dr. Katz specialises in the examination of salivary glands and is a passionate cook. Many of his patients have oral cancers, such as throat or tongue cancer and as a result have radiation treatment. This leaves patients with a sensitive mouth that can no longer produce saliva. 20 years ago, one of Phillipe’s patients asked if he could do anything to help with his difficulties in eating, so Phillipe decided to try and create a soup with a special texture that would be easier for his patient to eat. The soup was a success and Phillipe has now created a variety of recipes that his patients can comfortably eat and enjoy. Watch and download the recipes above!

Additional Resources

From our Celebrity Chef Ambassador - Ryan Riley

Ryan founded Life Kitchen with the mission to help people with cancer or taste loss to rediscover their love of food. In addition to his cookbook, Ryan runs free cookery classes for patients and provides lots of information on his site surrounding the science of taste in relation to cancer.

Free Classes

The science

Recipe cookbook by Andrew Gaylor

Practical Meal Planning for Patients recovering from Head and Neck Cancer. This booklet is designed to be basic and practical, to help you get through the challenges of your recovery from your cancer and its treatment. It covers a range of eating difficulties and situations, from those who have lost their tongue and/or their teeth and who therefore can’t eat any solid food, to those who can eat soft solid food with plenty of liquid, to those who can manage closer to a more normal diet but still have to plan all their meals very carefully.

Recipe cookbook

From the World Cancer Research Fund

The World Cancer Research Fund website has great advice for people living with cancer and those having cancer treatment who want advice on a diet and lifestyle that is as healthy as possible. Use the button below to access their advice.

Eat well during cancer

From Cook Through Cancer

Free online cookery classes for patients and carers in Scotland who are living with and beyond cancer. These award-winning classes are hosted by a professional chef and oncology specialist dietitian. All attendees will also receive; a £15 supermarket voucher to cover the cost and a support pack through the post.

Cook through cancer